B2 Understaing Our Environment COMPLETE Flashcards
Name the living things kingdoms
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
What is natural classification
Evolutionary relationship and genetic similarities between organisms
Define species
A group of organism which can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
What is an artificial classification system?
Based on appearance rather than genes
What is asexual reproduction
The organism produces a copy of its self with no interbreeding
Eg bacteria
What is a hybrid
A male from one species and a female from another
A mule is a hybrid
Biomass pyramids are always what shape
A pyramid as mass is lost at each stage
Why is energy lost in organisms
It’s lost in energy use
Respiration
Heat
Waste products
What is interspesifc competition ?
Completion between organism of another species
How do you calculate efficiency?
Energy available at next level
———————————– x 100
Energy at previous level
What is intraspesific completion?
Completion of organisms of the same species
Population of prey and predators go in what…..
Cycles
What is a parasite
They love off hosts and take but do not give and usually harms the host
Eg fleas
What is mutualism
Relationship where both organisms benefit
What is a specialist organism
Highly adapted ones such as pandas to only eat bamboo
Surface to volume ratio helps what….
Small objects have a large SA:V
Large objects have a smaller one
What is generalises animals
One that can like in a range of habitats such as rats
What was Darwin’s theory
That the fittest survive through completions for resources
What is a counter current heat exchange system
It means that feet stay cold all day and it stops cold blood cooling down the rest of the blood
How was natural selection proved
DNA and genes
What is the development is new species called
Specification
What does the carbon cycle show?
How carbon is recycled
How is the carbon cycle powered?
By photosynthesis
How is carbon released back into the atmosphere?
By burning fossil fuels
Name the four types of bacteria needed in the nitrogen cycle
Decomposes
Nitrifying bacteria
Nitrogen fixing
Denitrifying
How is human population increasing
Exponentially
What are increased populations causing
Global warming when fossil fuels are burnt
Acid tai when fossil fuels are burnt
Ozone depletion when CFCs are used
How can we test for populations
Use indicator species to tell if somewhere is polluted
What can cause a species to become extinct
Number if habitats
Individuals
Genetic variation
How can we evaluate a conservation program?
Genetic variation
Population
Habitats available
Interaction of species
What does sustainable development mean?
Providing for the needs of today’s increasing population without harming the environment
define genus
a group of closely related species- they can interbreed and produce fertile offspring just like a species
what is the problem with new species being discovered
they might not fit into already establshed categories so the classification systems have to be adapted. dna sequencing helps find where to put a new species
how can you show how closely related species are to each other
an evolutionary tree. it shows evolutionary relationships much like a family tree
define species
a group of organism that can interbreed to rodyce fertile offspring
define asexual reproduction
bacteria.
making a copy of yourself to reproduce. ther si no interbreeding
define a hybrid
interbreeding a male form one species and a female form a differnt species. you get a hybrid. eg a mule is a donkey and a horse. hybrid are infertile so not a species
how is evolution a continual process.
orgainsms change over time and the classifictaion must change also.new species can also eveolve causing evoluto to be happeinign costantly
what is the binomal system
giving orgainsims a two part name
human = homesapiens (homo=genus +sapien=species)
how can you explain similarities and differences between species?
how they are related (evoloutionary/ recent ancestors) and the tyep of enviroment they live in / adapt to survive in
what does a bar on a pryamid of biomass show
the mass of living material at that stage in the food chain
the longer the chain the moremass
what does a pryamid of biomass need?
the dry boimass of the objects(you have to kill the animals and dry them out enethical)
why can it be hard to create an accurate pryamid of biomass
some orgainsms feed on more that one trophic level
shat does a pryamid of numbers show?
the number of orgainism at each level ( they are not aways pryamid shaped)
what is the main souce of energy in a food chain.
the sun. it gives energy to nearly all life on earth
how does the suns energy get used up in plants
they use it to make food durin photsynthesis the rest is passed down through the chain
how else can energy used up in food chains
heat and waste products (egestion and excretion)
why can food chain not be more that 5 trophic leves high.
so much energy is lost at each stage there is not engough to support more orgainsims after four or five stages
why do organisms compete?
in order to survive for resources( food and shelter)
define the term ecological niche
is is how a species fits in to its ecosystem. it depends on things such as where the individaul lives and what the feed on
what are the two types of competition?
inter and intra spesific
define interspefsific copetition
competition between different species
intER= diffErent
define intraspesific competition
competition between the same species
intrA= sAme
what happens between predator and prey (their cycles)
they are always out of phase as it takes a while for one to catch up with the other and respond to changes.
population on any species is limited by the amount of food available. if the population of predators increases the number of prey will decrease and vise versa
what is a parasite?
they live of hosts, they take what they need to survive without giving anything back. often they harm the host WIN LOSE
eg.tapeworms asorb nutrients form the host and cause malnutrition to the hsot. fleas are annother example
mane a type of intercation/reationship where both orgainisms benefit
mutalism
what is mutalism
a WIN WIN relationship where both orgainsms benefit. eg. pants are pollinated by insects allowing then to reproduce, they give a sweet sugary nectar to the insects to eat, win win
what do adaptation do?
help an organism survive, they help them to be better suited for their environment and better compete for resources,
what do adaptaions allow orgainsms to be?
survive reproduce and pass on their adaptaions to off spring
define a specialist adaptation
one that makes an orgainsm highy adapted to survive in a SPESIFIC habitat
eg. giant pandas only eat bamboo
define a Generalist
an organism that is adapted to survive ina range of differnent habitats
eg black rats can survive in forests, cities and farmland
in a habitat that is stable who is better/ more able to survive there?
specialist will out-compete the generalist as they are better adapted to the spesific conditions
what allows some organisms to live in extremme conditions?
biochemical adaptations
what is an orgainsm called if it can live in seriously extreme conditions?
an extremophile
what is an example of an orgainsm with a boichemical adaptation for hot places ?
some bacteria haveenzymes that work better at higher optimum temps, these emzymes are able to fuction at temps that would ormally denature other enzymes. eg. Thermus Thermophilus grows bestin temps of 65 degrees
what is an example of an orgainsm with a boichemical adaptation for cold places ?
some orgainisms live in very cold places, they have special antifreeze protiens that interfere with the formulation and growth of ice crystals, stopping the cells form being damadges by ice
how have animals adapted anatomically to live in cold environemts?
think coat/blubber
surface area to volume ratio
what is surface area to volume ratio?
a way of comparing how much surface area something has compared to its size.
in cold evronemnts how do the animals lose less heat to surrondings?
by having a samller surface area to vooume ratios
what id a counter current exchange system?
blood vessules going to and from the feeet cary blood that flows in oppiste direction, they pass close together allwing heat to transfer heat hetween then. this allows warm blood in arteries to flow to the feet and heat up cold blood returing,
what does a counter current exchange system allow the orgamism to do?
stay/stand on ice all day and stop cold blood from cooling donw the rest of the body
eg.penguins
name some behavioural pattern adaptionas that are seen in animals living in cold envronments.
migration to warmer climates during the winter.
hibernation.
huddling together
how can you keep cool in hot envronments?
increase heat loss and reduce heat gain
name some behaviourial adaptaions to keep cool.
stay in the shade/underground where its cooler
be active at night when its cooler
bathe in water as when it evaporates it cools the animal down
how have animals adapted anatomically to keep cool?
they are usally small
large ears
store fat in one part of the body
why are animals in hot environments small?
it gives them a large surface area to volume ratio thus allows the to lose more body heat to surrondings
why do animals in hot environments have small ears?
it increases their surface area to volume ration allwing them to lose more heat. large thin ears alow more blood to flow near the skins surface so more ehat is radiated into the surrondings
why do animals in hot environments store fat in on epart of the body?
eg. a camels hump.
this stops the rest of the body being too well insulated and alows heat to be lost more easily
how have some desert plants adapted to live in hot and dry conditions?
rounded shape
thick waxy layer/cuticle
store water in stems
shallow but extenisve roots
how does having shallow but extenisve roots in the desert help plants survive
ensures maximum water is alorbed over a large area
how does having a rounded shape help plants in the desert survive/
gives then a smaller surface area to volume ratio to minimise water loss form the surface
how does having a think waxy cuticle help plants in the desert survive?
this along with spines instead of leaves further eeduces water loss
how does storing water in stems help plants in the desert survive?
allows the plant to survive in times of extreme drought
how have desert animals adapted to live where the do?
specialised kidneys
no sweat glands
living underground
how have specialised kidneys helps desert animals survive?
it allows then to prduce very concentrated urine with a low water content (less water loss)
how does having no sweat gands helps desert animals survive?
prevents the animal form losing water through sweating
how does living underground help desert animals live in the dry hot enviroment/
it is colder undergrouns and there is also more mosture there than above ground
define evolution
where species change slowly over time
what makes evolution possible?
genetic variation between species
what is darwins theory of evolution called?
natural selection
what did darwin know that hepled his with his theory?
that organisms show wide variation
organisms have to compete for limited resources in an ecosystem
what did darwin conclude about orgainism in his theory?
the organisms that are best adapted (the fittest) would be more sucessful copetetors and would be more likey to survive “theory of survival of the fittest”
what did dawin saythe sucessful organsims would e able to do?
reproduce, pass on adaptations that made them sucessful to their offspring
what did darwin say would happen to the less sucessful orgainsms?
they are less adapted so less likely to survive and reproduce. they will not pass on characteristics to offspring
how did darwin say species evolve?
sucessful adaptations woud be passes on and become more common in the population and species. they would change and thus evolve.
why wasnt darwins theory perfect?
he couldnt give a good explination fr why new characteristic appreared or how individuals passed on benificial adaptations to offspring
why could darwi not explain his theory of natural selection ad the fittest survive?
dna wasnt discovered untill 50 years later.
what is the development of a new species called?
specification. over a long period of time organisms may change so much because of natural selection that a new species if formed.
when does specification occur?
when the population of the same species change enough to become reproductively isolated
define the term reproductively isolated
twhen a new species if formed and they cant interbreed to produce fertile offspring
hw else can reproductive isolation happen?
due to geography
if a population become separated into two groups what can happen
they adapt to the new enviroment and due to natural selection beneficial ones get passes on and spread, the two groups will each change due to differing conditions. eventually they will be so different they wont be able to breed to produce fertile offspring
thye have become reprocutively isolate and two separate species
why did religious peole oppose darwin?
it went against common belief and it went against our existance without the need for a creator/ god. authorities of religion ridiclued him for this
who opposed darwin?
religious leaders
scientists ( darwin couldnt explain how and there was no evidence)
who was lamarck?
he had a conflicting idea of evolution to darwin
what did lamarcks ideas of evolution say?
if a characteristic was used a lot by an animal then it woud become more developed. he said these acquired characteristics could be passed on to offspring
why was lamarcks theory of evolution
people concluded that acquired characterisics dont have a genetic basis so theyre unable to be passes on to the next generation thus it was rejected
why is darwins theory widely accepted nowadays?
it has been debated and tested by many scientists, no one has proved it wrong
the theory offers a good explination for many observation of plants and animals (physical and behavioiral patterns)
what does the carbon cycle show?
how carbon is recycles in nature
what is the whole carbon cycle powered by?
photosynthesis
what does photosynthesis do in the carbon cycle?
converts carbon form CO2 in the air into sugars.
how do animals use/recycle carbon/
they eat and pass carbon compounds in the plant to the animals in the foodchain/web
what in the carbon cycle releases co2 back into the atmosphere/air?
both pant and animal respiration
what happens in the carbon cycle when animals and plants die?
they are broken down by bacteria and fungi in the soil. they decomposers release carob diocide back into the air via respiration as they break down the matterial.
over millions of years what happens to dead plants/animals? carbon cycle
they can form fossil fuels like coal and oil. when these are burned carbon dioxide is released back into the air
the cycle starts again
where is decomposition its slowest?
in waterlogged and acidic soild
why is decomposition slower in waterlogged soils?
the bacteria and fungi need oxygen to respire and prduce energy and break down the matter. waterlogged soild dont have this so they ave less energy and work slower
why does decomposition take longer in acidic soils?
the extremes of acid and PH slow down reproduction of decomposers or kill them
where else is carbon recycled appart from the carbon cycle?
the the sea
what is the process of recycling carbon in the sea?
marine animals use carbonates to make shells, when these die the shells form limestone rocks.
carbon in these rocks returns to the atmosphere as CO2 during volcanic euruptions orwhen rocks a weahered down
how does the sea asorb carbon?
carbon dioxide is arorbed in huge store called “carbon sinks”
what does the nitroge cycle show?
how nitroge is recycled
how much of the atmosphere is nitrogen?
78% of the gas
why is nitrogen hard to use?
plants and animals cant use it directly as it is very unreactive
what is nitrogen needed forin organisms?
growth and making protiens
how do plants get their nitrogen
from the soil. nirtogen in the air needs to be changed into nitrates before the pants can use it.
how is nitrogen passed along food chains./webs?
as animals eat pants an each other
define nitrogen fixation
the process of turing n2 form the air into nitrogen compounds in the soil which plantscanuse.
whataer the two ways in which nitrogen in the air is changed into nitrogen compounds?
lightning ( no much energy in it causes nitrogen to react with oxygen)
nitrogen fixing bacteria (in roots and soil)
what are the four types of bacteria involved in the nirtogen cycle?
decomposers
nitryifying bacteria
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
denitrifying bacteria
whts a decomposers job in the nitrogen cycle?
to decompose protiens and urea into ammonia
what the nitrifying bacteria job in the nitrogen cycle?
to turn ammonia in decaying matter into nitrates
whats the job of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?
to turn atmospheric nitrogen gas into nitrogen compunds that plants can use
whats the job is denitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?
turn nitrates back into nitrogen gas. it has no benefit to living organisms
where can nitrogen fixing bacteria live/
in the soil or in nodules in roots of legume plants
what type of relationship do plants have with nitrogen fixing bacteria ?
a mutulistc one. the bacteria get food (sugars) form the plant and the plant gets nitrogen compounds form the bacteria to make into proteins (win win)
why is nitrogen vital to all living organisms?
the amino acids that make proteins all contain nitrogen
in what way is te huma population increasing?
exponentially
what causes the population to increase
when the birth rate is higher than the death rate
what problems does a rapidly increasing popluation produce?
environmental ones. more resources being used up and more population to use them
increasing amounts of pollution are causing what?
global warming
acid rain
ozone layer
how is global warming caused by pollution?
fossil fuels are burned and release carbon dioxide ( a greenhouse gas) this gas traps heat in the atmosphere and causes the global temp to rise.
define the term carbon footprint
people countries and companies are measuring the amount of greenhouse gasses theyre giving off so they can reduce emissions.
the amount of greenhouse hasses given off in a certain period of time is called theiry carbon footprint
how is acid rain caused by pollution?
when fossil fuels and waste materials are burned they release sulfur dioxide. this reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid which falls as acid rain and damages sois trees, lakes and buildings
how is ozone depletion caused by pollution? how does it occur?
cfc’s break down the ozone and allow harmful uv rays to reach the earths surface.
where are cfc’s found
aerosoles
fridges
air-conditioning units
polystryne foam
how can you show pollution?
indicator species.
what species can you use to test air quality and why?
lichens as they are damadged by pollution so the cleaner the air the dreater the diversity of lichens that survive
what species can you use to test water quality and why?
mayfly larvae as they cannot surve in polluted water. the cleaner the water the more mayfly larvae survive
how can you test for polluted conditions?
waterlice, rat-tailed maggots, sludgeworms all indicate polluted water
how can you test for high levels of pollutions in an area?
look for rat-tailed maggots and sludge worms
what are the two ways of using inidcator species to measure?
- simple survey to see if a species are persent or absent
2. counting the number of times an indicator species occurs in an area (gives numberical values that can be compared)
what are the two ways in measuring population directly
- sensitve instuments can measue concentrations of chemical pollutants in samples of air or water
- satellite data can be used to indicate pollutant evels (shows where the ozone is thin or absent)
advanatges of using indicator species for looking at pollution levels.
quick, cheap and easy methos and no equiptment or trained workers needed which can be expenisive
disadvantages of using indicator species for looking at pollution levels.
factors other than pollution (temperature) can influence the survival of indicator species so living methods arent always reliable
advantages of using non-living methods for looking atpollution levels
directly measuring the pollutants gives a reliable, numerical data that can be compared. it also gives exact pollutants
disadvantages of using non-living mathods for looking at pollution levels
it needs expenise equiptment and trained workers
what does it mean to be and endangered species?
to have very low numbers left in the wild
what does it mean to be extinct?
to have none of the species left (they are all dead)
what causes a species to be at rick of extinction?
when certain factors fall below a critical level
number of habitats, individuals/mates and gentic variation
what do conservation programs do?
help save endangered plants and animals
how can you evaluate a conservation program?
look at
genentic variation( this needs to be able to cope wth new diseases and environmental change)
popluations (need to reproduce and be lareg enought to prevnt inbreeding)
habitat ( plenty of suitable ones to suit specialists)
interaction ( the species need to interact as they would naturally )
how do conservation programs protect the human food suply?
over fishing has reduce fish stocks, programsensure there will the more for the future
how do conseravtion programs help ensure minimal damadge to food chains?
if one species become extict it will affect all the organisms that feed on or are eaten by that species. the whole food chain is affected conserving one species can help others
how do conservation programs help with providing future medicines?
many medicines come form plants. undiscovered species may contain new chemical and if these becom extinct we could miss out of valuable medicines
how do conservatio programs help with culture?
individual species may be importain to anation or a culture heritage. they help preserve this
eg. the bald eagle is being conserved as its the usa’s national symbol
as the human population gets better we…..
need more food/land for farming
use up more energy which most are finite
produce more waste which needs to be put somewhere
define the term sustainable development
providing fpr the needs of todays increasing population without harming the environment
in order for sustainable developmen to be carried out what needs to happen?
there needs to be cooperation locally, nationally and globally
gie two example of sustainable devlopement that is being carried out now?
fishing quotas to prevent some fish becoming extinct
logging companies need to plant new trees to replace ones they have felled to keep the production of wood and paper sustainable
how is education importaint in sustanable development?
people need to be aware of problems. eg. not buying certain types of fish and only buying sustainable paper helps endagered species keep their habitats
why are whales becoming extict?
they have comercial value
tourist attraction
meat and oil used in cosmetics
whaling
what has been done to stop whaling/
the international whaling commision struggled to get nation to agree on restricing whaling. theybhave achieved this and now in a few countires theycan take a few whales for research
why does whaling continue despite laws?
it produces money and you cat alwsy keep check on everywhere. the interational whaling ompany cant punish people either.
what do people think about keeping whales in captivity?
they dont have much space and are sometimes used for entertainment. they have lost theiry freedom
they would be happieer in the wild.
they raise awareness by being in captivity
breeding programs alow numbers in increase
reaearch aloows for understanding of the animals
how can you remember the living things kingdoms?
king - kingdom phillip's - phylum caci - class occasionally - - order flowers - family giving - genus scent - species
